ROGER VIVIER

French fashion designer Roger Vivier (1903-1998) is best remembered as a great innovator who specialized in shoes. His most famous design was the stiletto heel, which may be one of the most enduring concepts in the field. He designed for the likes of Marlene Dietrich, The Beatles, and Queen Elizabeth II. One of his earliest ideas (in 1945) had a distinctively 1960s vibe: clear plastic ankle boots! Vivier worked for Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent when the fashion houses launched their footwear divisions. His most memorable 60s works was with YSL, which included the 1965 Pilgrim Pump (featured prominently by actress Catherine Deneuve's in Luis Buñuel's  Belle de Jour in 1967 and with the Mondrian dress on the cover of Vogue/photo David Bailey), and the return of the  transparent boots in 1966. My favorite of their collaborations, however, was this outfit from 1963, which featured long boots (apologies to the crocodiles), leather or tweed square smock with high collar, and visored helmet. The ensemble suggests Honor Blackman and Patrick Macnee's record, Kinky Boots, which reflected in 1964 how the style had caught on like wildfire: "It's a manly kind of fashion that you borrowed from the brutes." South-African born model Enid Boulting looks like she could have been Emma Peel's co-Avenger, or perhaps "filling out a ticket in her little black book." Speaking of Beatles references, Enid was married to director Roy Boulting, who made The Family Way (1966) with score by Paul McCartney. In other news, my episodes of the Cocktail Nation radio show are now live: Episode #1(Danger Man) and Episode #2 (The 10th Victim), Epsiode #3 (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) Episode #4 (Roger Moore/The Saint). Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Spy Vibe Radio 4, 1960s Pop Models, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Fahrenheit 451 50th, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview:Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art.